Kolkata: The city cops have launched a probe and a two-state manhunt, into an alleged case of gang rape by drugging and subsequent human trafficking involving a 26-year-old woman, who was allegedly lured by her own brother-in-law and his associate with the promise of a teaching job. She said that five men took turns raping her repeatedly over two months by continuously blackmailing her.
According to the complaint filed on Monday, the ordeal reportedly began on Feb 5, when the brother-in-law and his associate, Tarak Guria from Howrah, visited her residence and persuaded her to meet a "school principal" on Feb 15. She alleged that she was picked up near Body Guard Lines and, during the drive towards Khidderpore, the car was halted at a secluded spot under Vidyasagar Setu in the Hastings area on the pretext of a mock job interview.
The victim said she was offered a drink laced with a sedative, after which she began to feel dizzy and lost consciousness. She alleged that the two men then took turns to rape her and recorded the act, later threatening to circulate the footage on social media.
The complaint further details a second incident on March 26, when the accused allegedly used the video to blackmail her and forced her to travel by train to Jamshedpur. She was taken to an apartment in Azad Nagar, where she was allegedly confined and assaulted by three other individuals. The primary accused is suspected to have received Rs 50,000 in exchange.
During the return journey to Howrah the following day, the accused allegedly threatened to label the victim a sex worker using the footage if she refused to participate in further such activities.
Traumatised and under sustained threats, the woman later confided in her sister and a friend before approaching the police.
An FIR was registered at Hastings PS under relevant BNS sections, including rape, criminal conspiracy and trafficking.